Turning Old Tires Into Stylish Shoes

Alemu, a 30 year-old woman, runs a trailblazing business in Africa making shoes from old rubber tires. SoleRebels handcraft their “zero-emission” sandals and shoes from organic and recycled materials of many types, like camouflage material cut from old army uniforms.

The business takes inspiration from the original old car tire shoes worn by soldiers who fought Italy’s invading forces, but their style is chic and their shoes exude comfort.

Alemu and her family launched the business in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, in 2005 and already it is stepping out onto the global stage with clients like Amazon, Urban Outfitters, and a host of Web sites outlets and bricks and mortar companies in the U.S.